Boosting longevity often comes down to the small choices you make every day.

But according to experts, many of us are unknowingly sabotaging our own health with habits that seem innocent until they’re not.

The Daily Mail interviewed longevity experts Dr. Michelle Jorgensen from Living Well with Dr. Michelle and Dr. Will Haas, founder and CEO of VYVE Wellness, to uncover habits that may be reducing our lifespan.

Dr. Jorgensen pointed out that excessively cutting salt from your diet might be harmful because it means ‘removing energy from your cells.’

She explained: ‘Without minerals like sodium, your heart, brain, and energy grid start to fail.’

Next up, the doctor shared a series of quick-fire insights about daily habits that are secretly harmful.

‘Popping antacids like candy? Say hello to nutrient deficiencies, fragile bones, and a brain that can’t think straight,’ she detailed.

‘Replacing meals with green juice? Not when it’s a blood sugar bomb with no fiber. Insulin spikes = accelerated aging.

Boosting longevity often comes down to the small choices you make every day (stock image)

She also warned against mouth breathing at night, as it prevents the intake of nitric oxide, disrupts oxygen flow, and could lead to a higher risk of Alzheimer’s disease.

She added that snoring and ignoring it isn’t just annoying, ‘it’s a sign your brain is suffocating. Untreated sleep apnea can shave 10 to 20 years off your life.’

Additionally, the doctor said if you’re not scraping your tongue, you’ll be shocked to know what’s living in your mouth.

‘That white coating? It’s mold, yeast, and bacteria — setting you up for chronic sinus infections and gut issues,’ Dr. Jorgensen revealed.

She also clarified that getting a root canal doesn’t mean the problem is gone. 

‘It’s not “done”— it’s sealed infection. Bacteria trapped inside can leach toxins into your bloodstream for decades, fueling heart disease and stroke,’ she detailed.

The longevity expert continued: ‘Grinding your teeth at night? That’s not just stress —it’s your body gasping for air. You’re fighting for breath while you sleep.

‘Holding your breath when stressed? You’re literally choking off oxygen to your brain and heart—triggering a cortisol surge and inflammation storm.’

Many of us are unknowingly sabotaging our own health with habits that seem innocent until they’re not (stock image)

Dr. Jorgensen also shared that holding in your pee too long isn’t a power move because it is putting strain on your kidneys and risking long-term bladder damage.

Additionally, the expert asked: ‘Chewing sugar-free gum? Aspartame and sorbitol are microbiome murderers. Goodbye, good gut bugs, hello autoimmune risk.

‘Constant hand sanitizer use? You’re not killing germs. You’re nuking your immune system’s training ground.’

The longevity expert added that if you are still using fluoride toothpaste, you’re microdosing a neurotoxin twice a day, and potentially hurting your thyroid in the process.

Also, if you’re ignoring bleeding gums, that’s not just a dental problem, the expert said, ‘it’s an open door to heart disease, stroke, and even dementia.’ 

Finally, she said dismissing your daily brain fog as ‘normal’ isn’t a good idea.

‘It’s not age — it’s your cells crying out for help. Ignore it and you’re inviting neurodegeneration,’ Dr. Jorgensen concluded.

Dr. Will Haas also chimed in with another five habits that can quietly sabotage your long-term health. 

He explained that sitting after a big meal might impair blood sugar regulation and, ‘falling out of a consistent brushing routine can lead to chronic gum inflammation – something strongly linked to heart and brain disease.’

The expert also shared that, ‘watching TV right up until bed bathes your brain in blue light, throwing off melatonin and disrupting deep, restorative sleep.’

‘Putting on deodorant that isn’t non-toxic can expose you to endocrine-disrupting chemicals like aluminum and parabens, which may interfere with hormone balance over time.’

He concluded with a final warning about wearing shoes inside, insisting that it ‘might seem trivial, but it’s a hidden way toxins like pesticides and heavy metals are tracked into your home and absorbed through everyday contact.’